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Recently, I had the pleasure of guiding 2nd graders from Play Based Projects in Roatan through a virtual journey of the island’s rich history. Online, the students explored archaeological sites throughout the Bay Islands such as the Candle Cave and Cathedral Cave in Utila, learned about the native peoples of the Bay Islands, and discovered stories of caves, ancient gods, artifacts, and even pirates. The class has a Lego challenge focused on archaeology, inspiring the children

It’s been almost a decade since Honduras released one of its most beautiful and meaningful stamp collections: the Kaha Kamasa series of 2016. If you’re not familiar with it, “Kaha Kamasa” is the Pech name for La Ciudad Blanca, the legendary “White City of the Monkey God” long woven into the mythology of eastern Honduras. Back in 2016, "Marca Pais" issued a commemorative set of stamps celebrating the archaeological discoveries tied to this region, discoveries that captivated t

Let’s talk about something that comes up a lot in Utila. Many families on the island say they descend from pirates. It’s a story people repeat with pride, and I understand why — it’s colorful, it’s dramatic, and it ties the island to a part of Caribbean history that captures everyone’s imagination. But when you start comparing the dates, the migrations, and the actual historical timelines, the pieces don’t quite line up. On one of my recent visits to Utila, I spent time in th

Hoy quiero hablarles de un libro en español que me pareció especial: Historias de mujeres, voces de niñas. Es uno de los títulos que regaló la Secretaría de las Culturas, Artes y los Patrimonios . Su primera edición salió en octubre de 2024, publicada por la SECAPPH e impresa por la Editorial Nacional Eva Thais. Desde la primera página, el libro deja clara su intención: en Honduras, ser niña significa enfrentarse a una vida de lucha, pero también significa tener una enorme fu

When I started reading Las Islas de la Bahía: una síntesis histórica, I expected dates, timelines, maybe a summary of who arrived and when. What many people are now realizing is how incomplete most of the stories we’ve been told about the Bay Islands really are. As I kept reading, one idea kept repeating itself in different ways: the Bay Islands were not isolated. We already know that here. The islands were positioned inside what researchers describe as an intermediate cultur

A few days ago, I was given a small stack of books from Partners in Education Roatan - PIER  to read, and I have to say… it felt like receiving a stack of little treasures. These aren’t just any books. They’re the very same books they use to help teach teachers. They’re used with students. And even more special, many of them were created in collaboration with talented island artists — people whose work is deeply rooted in our culture and our traditional island life. One boo

I spent some time at the National Archive yesterday afternoon, and like always, I walked out having learned something new. That place is full of quiet little treasures. This time, what I found was a handwritten letter dated August 17, 1861, written in Roatan by Franco Bernández, who at the time was the appointed authority of the Bay Islands. The letter was addressed to the Minister of the Treasury of Honduras, based in Comayagua. At first glance, the letter is just administra

This morning I had the joy of giving an interview to HRN, the largest and the most important radio station in Honduras, where I got to share something that means a lot to me — the reimagining of Utila’s tourism identity. For too long, Utila has been seen mostly as a party and diving destination, but we’re changing that narrative. This summer, visitors will have the chance to connect with the island on a much deeper level — exploring our indigenous heritage, our layered histor

In 1809, while most of the Caribbean was known through sugar, slavery, and war, a lesser-known travel log offered an unexpected window into the serene yet strategic Bay Islands of Honduras. That log belonged to Captain George Henderson, a British officer stationed in the region, who documented his journey aboard His Majesty’s schooner Monkey, under the command of Lieutenant Smith. Their route through the islands—Ruatan (Roatan), Morat, Barbarette, and Bonacca (Guanaja)—reads

I had the pleasure of being on Q’Hubo TV a few hours ago to talk about something really close to my heart: the other face of tourism — cultural tourism. We’re so used to seeing tourism as just beaches and fun (which are great!), but there’s a whole other side that’s just as powerful. It’s about our history, our identity, and the stories that have shaped the Bay Islands. I also shared a bit about the museum that’s currently being built in Utila. It’s going to be open to the pu

I had the chance to attend a lecture and book signing at the Kimpton at Grand Roatan Resort with Steve Elkins, the explorer who discovered the legendary Ciudad Blanca, also known as the Lost City of the Monkey God. This incredible story was documented by renowned author Douglas Preston, who was invited by Elkins to join the expedition and later wrote the bestselling book based on their real-life adventure. What was discovered in that remote part of the Honduran Mosquitia jung

On June 21st, 2025, I had the opportunity to participate in the Expo BIP 2025, an event that brings together entrepreneurs, local brands, and the community in celebration of BIP's 14th anniversary. Every year, the expo highlights creativity, innovation, and the stories behind the people who shape our islands — and this time, I was honored to be part of it. During the meet-and-greet, we hosted a book signing for “History, Culture, and Cuisine of the Bay Islands” , available in

Before the bright colors, the parades, and the fireworks, the Utila Carnival started with something much simpler: a group of islanders trying to help their neighbors after disaster hit. It was after a late 90’s hurricane swept across the island, leaving some families without homes and others with roofs and walls barely standing. Communities organized themselves to respond. There was no big outside aid. What there was, though, was a whole lot of heart. Each community committee

Just under two kilometers from Pumpkin Hill and only about 300 feet from Ironbound Beach, there's a place on the North Side of Utila that feels like something out of a storybook, or maybe like something our ancestors left behind. That’s exactly the goal of True Utila  a botanical garden and conservation project dreamed up by Trey and Marichi, the same couple behind The Safe Spot. Trey is originally from the U.S., Marichi from Guatemala, but their love for the island is deep a

Growing up, I always thought some of the things my grandfather said were just island slang, funny phrases that didn’t quite match the English I was learning in school. As someone who’s half islander and half foreigner, my English leaned more American, so hearing things like “ova yanda” instead of “over there” always stood out to me. I’d smile, repeat it in my head, and wonder, “Where did that even come from?” It wasn’t until I was in 4th grade at ESBIR (Roatan Bilingual Schoo

It’s not often you can say with certainty that you’re walking exactly where an explorer did over a hundred years ago. But this was one of those rare moments. With a book in hand, we followed one of the oldest and most detailed documents ever written about the archaeology of the Bay Islands: Archaeological Explorations in the Bay Islands of Honduras, authored by American archaeologist William Duncan Strong and published by the Smithsonian Institution in 1935. Strong wasn’t jus

St. Helene has always held its secrets well, 29 documented caves and counting, each with its own story carved into stone. But the island still has more to give. This cave, found recently by our local guide Amilcar, isn’t on any map. It’s one of two new caves he’s come across, and this one in particular feels like a quiet revelation. From the outside, it’s easy to miss. At first glance, the opening doesn’t look like much, just a split in the ground. But when you take a closer

There’s a cave in St. Helene that just about everyone on the island knows. It’s not marked, there’s no sign pointing to it, but ask around and someone will show you the way. Over the years, it’s become the place people go when a hurricane’s coming. Locals have been using it for decades, maybe longer. It’s one of the most common shelters here, especially before people had concrete houses or access to warnings ahead of time. The cave’s big enough to hold a crowd and feel protec

The Royal Readers were once standard classroom material across much of the British Empire, from England and Scotland to far-off colonial outposts, including the Caribbean colonies. In fact, it’s rare to find physical copies these days, which is why the small collection housed at Brian Bush’s place in Utila is such a treasure. He finds these little gems online and purchases them to add to his very valuable collection. These books didn’t just teach reading; they carried with th

When Reverend F.J. Bomford sat down to type the account of what happened aboard the schooner Olympia in 1905, he wasn’t just recording a tragedy, he was preserving the testimony of a survivor, and with it, a profound act of faith. His writing, titled Elsie Morgan’s Heroism, documents one of the most horrifying events in the history of the Bay Islands. But more than that, it reveals the unseen emotional and spiritual labor of a man who had to bear witness to a story few could